Facilities: use of renewable forms of energy and energy efficient products

(a)Use of Renewable Forms of Energy Encouraged.—

The Secretary of Defense shall encourage the use of energy systems using solar energy or other renewable forms of energy as a source of energy for military construction projects (including military family housing projects) and facility repairs and renovations where use of such form of energy is consistent with the energy performance goals and energy performance master plan for the Department of Defense developed under section 2911 of this title and supported by the special considerations specified in subsection (c) of such section.

(b)Consideration During Design Phase of Projects.—

(1) The Secretary concerned shall require that the design for the construction, repair, or renovation of facilities (including family housing and back-up power generation facilities) requires consideration of energy systems using solar energy or other renewable forms of energy when use of a renewable form of energy—

supported by the special considerations specified in subsection (c) of such section.

(2)

The Secretary concerned shall require that contracts for construction resulting from such design include a requirement that energy systems using solar energy or other renewable forms of energy be installed if such systems can be shown to be cost effective.

(c)Determination of Cost Effectiveness.—

(1)

For the purposes of this section, an energy system using solar energy or other renewable forms of energy for a facility shall be considered to be cost effective if the difference between (A) the original investment cost of the energy system for the facility with such a system, and (B) the original investment cost of the energy system for the facility without such a system can be recovered over the expected life of the facility.

(2)

A determination under paragraph (1) concerning whether a cost-differential can be recovered over the expected life of a facility shall be made using the life-cycle cost methods and procedures established pursuant to section 544(a) of the National Energy Conservation Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 8254(a)).

(d)Exception to Square Feet and Cost Per Square Foot Limitations.—

In order to equip a military construction project (including a military family housing project) with heating equipment, cooling equipment, or both heating and cooling equipment using solar energy or other renewable forms of energy or with a passive energy system using solar energy or other renewable forms of energy, the Secretary concerned may authorize an increase in any otherwise applicable limitation with respect to the number of square feet or the cost per square foot of the project by such amount as may be necessary for such purpose. Any such increase under this subsection shall be in addition to any other administrative increase in cost per square foot or variation in floor area authorized by law.

(e)Use of Energy Efficient Products in Facilities.—

(1)

The Secretary of Defense shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that energy efficient products meeting the requirements of the Department of Defense are used in construction, repair, or renovation of facilities by or for the Department carried out under chapter 169 of this title if such products are readily available and their use is consistent with the energy performance goals and energy performance master plan for the Department developed under section 2911 of this title and supported by the special considerations specified in subsection (c) of such section.

(2)

(A)

The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe a definition of the term “energy-efficient product” for purposes of this subsection and establish and maintain a list of products satisfying the definition. The definition and list shall be developed in consultation with the Secretary of Energy to ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, consistency with definitions of the term used by other Federal agencies.

(B)

The Secretary shall modify the definition and list of energy-efficient products as necessary to account for emerging or changing technologies.

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 111–383, § 2832(b)(2), substituted “the design for the construction, repair, or renovation of facilities (including family housing and back-up power generation facilities) requires consideration of energy systems using solar energy or other renewable forms of energy when use of a renewable form of energy—” for “the design of all new facilities (including family housing) shall include consideration of energy systems using solar energy or other renewable forms of energy.” and added subpars. (A) and (B).

2006—Pub. L. 109–364, § 2854(b)(1), substituted “New construction: use of renewable forms of energy and energy efficient products” for “Use of renewable forms of energy in new facilities” in section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109–364, § 2854(b)(2),(3)(A)(i), inserted heading and substituted “is consistent with the energy performance goals and energy performance plan for the Department of Defense developed under section 2911 of this title and supported by the special considerations specified in subsection (c) of such section” for “would be practical and economically feasible”.

“(2) A determination under paragraph (1) of whether a cost-differential can be recovered over the expected life of a facility shall be made using accepted life-cycle costing procedures and shall include—

“(A) the use of all capital expenses and all operating and maintenance expenses associated with the energy system with and without an energy system using solar energy or other renewable forms of energy over the expected life of the facility or during a period of 25 years, whichever is shorter;

“(B) the use of fossil fuel costs (and a rate of cost growth for fossil fuel costs) as determined by the Secretary of Defense; and

“(C) the use of a discount rate of 7 percent per year for all expenses of the energy system.

“(3) For the purpose of any life-cycle cost analysis under this subsection, the original investment cost of the energy system using solar energy or other renewable forms of energy shall be reduced by 10 percent to reflect an allowance for an investment cost credit.”

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 97–321, § 801(b)(1)(C)–(E), substituted: in par. (1) “an energy system using solar energy or other renewable forms of energy” for “a solar energy system” before “for a facility” and in items (A) and (B) “such a system” for “a solar energy system”; in par. (2)(A) “an energy system using solar energy or other renewable forms of energy” for “a solar energy system”; and in par. (3) “energy system using solar energy or other renewable forms of energy” for “solar energy system”, respectively.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 97–321, § 801(b)(1)(F), substituted “heating equipment, cooling equipment, or both heating and cooling equipment using solar energy or other renewable forms of energy or with a passive energy energy system using solar energy or other renewable forms of energy” for “solar heating equipment, solar cooling equipment, or both solar heating and solar cooling equipment, or with a passive solar energy system”.